Classroom Resources: Molecules & Bonding
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Ionic Bonding, Lewis Structures, Naming Compounds | Middle School, High School
Activity: Ionic Bonding Puzzle Mark as Favorite (148 Favorites)
In this activity, students match puzzle pieces to create neutral ionic compounds. Once they have made a neutral ionic compound they can use electron dot diagrams to show the formation of the compounds. Finally they will name the ionic compounds.
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Physical Properties, Molecular Structure, Polarity | High School, Middle School
Activity: What Makes Water So Special? Mark as Favorite (56 Favorites)
In this activity, students will become familiar with the special properties of water by completing several activities that investigate the following physical properties/phenomena: cohesion, adhesion, surface tension, and capillary action.
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Elements, Periodic Table, Polyatomic Ions, Covalent Bonding, Ionic Bonding, Molecular Formula | Middle School, High School
Activity: Game Activity: Guess What: Compounds Mark as Favorite (0 Favorites)
In this game, students will use their knowledge of the different types of elements and the compounds they can form to guess the computer opponent’s secret compound before the computer can identify their compound. Students will take turns with the computer asking and answering yes or no questions about their secret compounds, selected from a pool of 20 compounds, to try to narrow down the pool to identify the computer’s compound first. This activity encourages students to reflect on different ways matter can be classified.
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Ionic Bonding, Polyatomic Ions | High School
Activity: Game Activity: Ion Dice Mark as Favorite (2 Favorites)
In this game, students will test their knowledge of how ions combine to form ionic compounds. Students will score points by rolling the 12 ion dice and combining ions to create various ionic compounds. As the players create compounds, they are left with fewer dice and must decide whether to stop and bank their points or to press their luck, risking a “bust” and losing all their points for the round. This accompanying activity encourages students to further practice the skills used in the game, as well as to take the next step of writing names and formulas for ionic compounds.
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Physical Properties, Covalent Bonding, Electronegativity, Polarity, Molecular Geometry, Intermolecular Forces, Solubility | Middle School, High School
Activity: The Chemistry of Water Video Questions Mark as Favorite (48 Favorites)
In this activity, students will watch a video and answer questions about how the molecular geometry and polarity of water give rise to many of its unusual physical properties, including its relatively high boiling point and its ability to dissolve some substances but not others.
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Naming Compounds, Molecular Formula, Ionic Bonding, Covalent Bonding | High School
Activity: Chemical Names and Formulas Practice Mark as Favorite (50 Favorites)
In this activity, students will practice naming and writing formulas for ionic compounds, covalent compounds, and acids. The flowchart provided reminds students of different naming conventions and how to tell when to use various naming rules. Students are also asked to make connections with language studies regarding prefixes and suffixes and to reflect on the importance of consistent naming rules for clear communication.
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Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds, Intramolecular Forces, Ions, Electrostatic Forces, Polyatomic Ions | High School
Activity: Constructing Ionic Compounds Mark as Favorite (113 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use cards of different size and color as models for different types of ions. They will use the cards to construct ionic compounds by balancing the charges on cations and anions. Students will be able to write formulas and names for ionic compounds.
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Precipitate, Solubility, Solubility Rules, Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds | High School
Activity: Game Activity: Precipitation Reactions Game Mark as Favorite (16 Favorites)
In this game, students will explore the concepts of solubility and precipitation reactions. The game contains three difficulty levels – introductory, standard, and mastery – in which students will have to fulfill specific victory conditions for a series of scenarios. Victory conditions include selecting compounds to form a particular precipitate, using the proper ratio of reactants, and correctly identifying what precipitate will form from a collection of ions using a solubility chart. Bonus questions include naming compounds and identifying spectator ions.
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Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds | High School
Activity: Game Activity: Matchmaker Ionic Bonding Mark as Favorite (27 Favorites)
In this game, students will test their ionic bonding knowledge by forming ionic compounds from a variety of ions. During the game students will be provided with a name of the ionic compound and two ions (one cation and one anion). The goal of the game is to form an ionic compound that matches the name using the provided ions. Students score points by combining the ions in the correct ratio, based on the charges, and by selecting the matching chemical formula.
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Intermolecular Forces, Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Molecular Motion, Molecular Motion, Physical Properties | High School
Activity: Simulation Activity: Comparing Attractive Forces Mark as Favorite (119 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use a simulation to investigate different types of intermolecular forces (London dispersion, induced dipole, and hydrogen bonding). In the analysis that follows the activity, they will relate IMFs (also including dipole-dipole) to physical properties (boiling point, solubility, and vapor pressure). This activity and simulation are appropriate for students in any level chemistry course.
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VSEPR Theory, Molecular Structure, Molecular Geometry | High School
Activity: VSEPR Modeling Mark as Favorite (76 Favorites)
In this activity, students construct physical models of molecular shapes. However, students are not told what the preferred arrangements of electron pair domains are. Instead, they derive the arrangements. Students are given the opportunity to conceptualize what is happening when one electron pair domain acts upon another, and to understand how those interactions result in the molecular geometries predicted by VSEPR theory.
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VSEPR Theory, Molecular Geometry, Lewis Structures, Covalent Bonding | High School
Activity: VSEPR with Balloons Mark as Favorite (61 Favorites)
In this activity, students will explore Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory using balloon models. Since balloons tend to take up as much space as they can when tied together, they can look like models of central atoms in VSEPR theory, making a great metaphor for the model. This activity is an extension of the activity, Shapes of Molecules found on the AACT website.
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Ionic Bonding, Naming Compounds, Molecular Formula, Ions, Ionic Radius, Solubility, Melting Point, Physical Properties | High School
Activity: Ionic Bonding Brackets Mark as Favorite (62 Favorites)
In this lesson, students will demonstrate their knowledge of ionic bond strength and its relationship to the properties of melting point and solubility using a “brackets” activity. After analyzing the ionic charge and radius to predict the strongest and weakest bond between four pairs of ionic substances, they will then determine which will be the least soluble.
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Covalent Bonding, Lewis Structures, VSEPR Theory, Electronegativity, Polarity | High School
Activity: Properties of Common Molecular Substances Mark as Favorite (60 Favorites)
In this activity, students will apply their knowledge of molecular polarity, shape, and intermolecular forces to explain the differences in properties between different covalent substances.
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Covalent Bonding, Polarity, Electronegativity, Lewis Structures, VSEPR Theory | High School
Activity: Modeling Molecular Polarity Mark as Favorite (72 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use electronegativity values and their knowledge of covalent bonding to model the bonds in a molecule. Using this information they will learn how to determine the overall polarity of a molecule.
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Covalent Bonding, Polarity, Electronegativity | High School
Activity: Modeling Bond Polarity Mark as Favorite (77 Favorites)
In this activity, students will model the pull of electrons in a bond between two elements, demonstrating covalent bonding. In particular differentiating between polar and nonpolar bonds.
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Periodic Table, Ionization Energy, Electronegativity | High School
Activity: Introduction to Ionization Energy and Electronegativity with a Tactile Model Mark as Favorite (17 Favorites)
In this activity, students will investigate the definitions of ionization energy and electronegativity as well as the periodic trends for each through building tactile models using Lego blocks.
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Functional Groups, Molecular Structure , Polarity | High School
Activity: Introduction to Functional Groups Mark as Favorite (14 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about the naming conventions for organic compounds and examine the functional groups of different molecules.
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Intermolecular Forces, Polarity, Molecular Geometry, Melting Point, Boiling Point | High School
Activity: Examining the Strength of Intermolecular Forces of Attraction Mark as Favorite (31 Favorites)
In this activity, students will be able to understand the strength of the attractions of the three intermolecular forces (IMFs) and use this information to help identify physical properties of molecules (such as melting point, boiling point or states of matter).
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Solubility, Solute & Solvent, Intermolecular Forces, Covalent Bonding, Polarity, Intermolecular Forces | High School
Activity: T-Shirt Chromatography Mark as Favorite (46 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about solubility, saturation, polarity, and intermolecular forces through chromatography techniques.
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Limiting Reactant, Stoichiometry, Balancing Equations, Mole Concept, Dimensional Analysis, Molar Mass | High School
Activity: Sweet Stoichiometry Reactions Mark as Favorite (67 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use candy to investigate stoichiometry and mole-gram relationships in chemical equations, but could also be used to introduce the concept of limiting reactants.
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Molecular Structure, Intermolecular Forces, Measurements, SI Units | High School
Activity: Designing an Effective Respiratory Cloth Mask Mark as Favorite (62 Favorites)
In this activity students will use unit conversion to help compare sizes of molecules, viruses, and droplets and then use them to interpret graphical data. They will then use their findings to design a cloth mask that helps protect its wearer against infection by SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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Density, Separating Mixtures, Polymers, Polymers | High School
Activity: Identifying Plastics with Density Data Mark as Favorite (5 Favorites)
In this activity, students will familiarize themselves with different types of plastics. Using data analysis, students will determine how to use the density values of a variety of plastic samples in order to separate a specific sample from a mixture.
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Periodic Table, Physical Properties, Identifying an Unknown, Ionization Energy, Atomic Radius, Electronegativity | High School
Activity: Mendeleev's Periodic Table Mark as Favorite (56 Favorites)
In this activity, students will use their knowledge of Periodic Trends to analyze and identify unknown elements and organize them correctly in the Periodic Table.
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Percent Composition, Intermolecular Forces, Interdisciplinary, Elements | High School
Activity: Investigating how the Chemistry of Plate Tectonics Affects Volcanoes Mark as Favorite (15 Favorites)
In this activity, students will learn about the impact chemistry has on plate tectonics and volcanoes. Students will analyze graphs and charts in order to better understand these topics during this investigation.